Friday, February 15, 2013

Travel bloggers, writers, photographers, and other travel enthusiasts come mingle with us! Exchange twitter handles and business cards to network with travelers from around the globe. After you’ve mingled a bit, join a discussion with a panel of speakers on how in the new normal of Web 2.0 we can tell our story to create a different narrative of Nigeria, and Africa in general, than the one in mainstream media. How can creating this new narrative on social media encourage travel to the region? Let’s have a conversation!

Growing up in Chicago and being the daughter of an ex-Marine, I learned street smarts during my teenage years. My father taught me how to walk down the street and be aware of my surroundings. I learned to turn around and look to see if someone was following me.

Big Apple at New York JFK Airport

In urban cities like Chicago or New York, when riding public transportation you should walk with confidence and show no fear, looking sweet and innocent makes you a target. You should practice your mean look or scowl in the mirror. A woman traveling alone should have a "don't f*ck with me look" or "a back off look". It is also a good idea to carry mace or a whistle for help. This look has worked for me around the world.If someone is following me or bothering me around a crowd of other people, I suddenly stop and turnaround while yelling "Get away from me. Stop following me." This usually scares them away.Women traveling alone should stay away from dark isolated areas, that is just asking for trouble.

Safety and protection were daily lessons in our household.My father taught me that carrying a purse isn't always a good idea when I am alone. He had my grandmother show how to carry money and identification in my bra or the heel of my shoes. I was given mad money or emergency money to carry on me, especially on dates. In case, my date made me angry and I had to leave immediately. The emergency mad money could be used for a taxi.My ex-marine father believes in wearing jackets, pants and shirts with deep pockets to keep the valuables safe from pickpockets. He instructed me to leave my purse at home during Christmas holidays when the thieves were the busiest. I would carry my money, identification cards and keys in deep pockets. While traveling this is safety practice of leaving my purse in the hotel room and carrying the valuables on my body is a sensible idea of protection for a woman traveling solo. You don't want to worry about a purse when you are in a looking like a tourist in a new place, getting lost and asking for directions. The lost tourist look can make you an easy target or mark for thieves. Sometimes you can't help looking out of place. It is best to keep on valuables on you.If you decide to carry a purse, choose one that straps over your shoulder and across your body is best for safety. It is more difficult for thieves to grab a purse strapped over your shoulders compared to a purse in your hand. It is also a good idea to wear your purse across your shoulders under your coat. As a flight attendant on my overnights, I enjoy exploring a place by myself. I place my money, hotel room key, identification cards, credit cards in my pockets and go off exploring. Many times I have my camera or cell phone in my hands photographing people and places. A purse can get in the way and make it difficult to juggle with photography work. Also I may be distracted with taking photos to watch out for thieves and protect my purse.These are some of the reasons I love pocket clothes or gear.

I recently went to the President's 57th Inaugural Parade wearing my ScottevestPenny Coat. It is cool pocket travel coat with deep pockets to carry cellphones, cameras, ipads, water bottles, keys, money, identification, credit cards, etc. It is perfect for being a tourist in unfamiliar surroundings or large crowds.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Melanie FionaThe sounds of jazz and world music come to Tobago every April during the main Island festival of the Tobago Jazz Experience. Music lovers converge on the quaint Island of Tobago to enjoy eleven days of jazz, world beat, salsa, Latin, R&B, soca, reggae and many other forms of contemporary music.

Jazz is the basis for most of the popular music of today, and the Tobago Jazz Experience (TJE) showcases that breadth and content. Tobago is evolving and changing as it advances in every sphere of life and the Tobago Jazz Experience continues to step with those changes.

The desires of even the most diverse music lover can get satisfied. The festival offers a great opportunity for visitors to have a unique experience of jazz, cultural heritage, culinary delights and historic perspective offering music, landscape, ambience, food, good company and excellent vibes.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

You are invited to attend a series of statewide, national and international programs, events and activities being planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Harriet Ross Tubman’s passing. The commemoration was launched in September of last year with Tubman family members gathering at the Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in Baltimore. Special guests included Ms. Patricia Ross Hawkins, the great-great-great niece of Harriet and other Tubman descendants from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Harriet Tubman, the queen of the Underground Railroad was born into American slavery in c.1822. Tubman endured almost 30 years of involuntary servitude as a Maryland slave. In 1849 she escaped from bondage. One year later, Tubman began her amazing Underground Railroad career here in Baltimore, first leading her niece and family, and for 10 years leading and assisting dozens of freedom-seekers to liberty, many all the way to Ontario. After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, she opened a home for the sick and aged.

Follow the Underground Railroad Trip

Guided by her faith and the indomitable power of her will and dedication to ending slavery, Tubman stated “there were two things I had a right to…my freedom or my death,” insisting “she was determined to have one or the other.” Fearless and undaunted, facing tremendous odds (some say she had a $40,000.00 bounty placed on her life, if captured, dead or alive) she carried on becoming the greatest leader of the Underground Railroad. General Tubman later remarked “I nev’r lost a passenger and I’se nev’r ran my train off de track”. She profoundly remarked “I could’ve freed a thousand more if they had known they were slaves”.

The driving force behind many of these commemorative activities is Lou Fields, Baltimore area human rights activist, president of the African American Tourism Council of Maryland, founder and first president of the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, and founder of Black Dollar Exchange, the world's largest exchange and connector for Black-owned businesses, Black chamber of commerces, minority businesses, products and services.. He can be reached at (443) 983-7974.